Review Blog

Nov 30 2016

Squares and other shapes with Josef Albers

Phaidon, 2016. ISBN 9780714872551
(Age: 2-6) Recommended. Art, Board book. In the series, First
Concepts with Fine Artists, this board book reveals a series
of shapes through the art of twentieth century Modernist, Josef
Albers. On each page is an example of his abstract paintings: a
square, squares within square, rectangles, circles, lots of circles,
triangles and many triangles. Each page shows a bright illustration,
revealing a shape or series of shapes for children to recognise.
They will eagerly tell the adult reading the book what each shape is
and delight in the image given them. The adult reader will be able
to encourage their enjoyment at recognisinsg the shapes shown and
with their increased understanding of fine art. This is the first
book in the series, the second being Blues and other Colours
with Henri Matisse.
Each of the books presents an artist to the younger reader in a way
that will encourage identification, discussion and interaction.
Fran Knight